Elevator-door-operating mechanism.



Patented may 20, I902. H RDWNTREE. ELEVATOR DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM.

(Application filed Nov. 29, 1901.)

(No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet I;

m: moms mans cu. whmumo" wnsumumu, his.

No; 700,375. Patented May 20, I902.

, H; ROWNTBEE.

ELEVATOR DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM.

Application filed Nov. 29, 1901. Mode") 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

f w as m No. 700,375. Patented May 20, I902. H. BOWNTREE.

ELEVATOR DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM.

(Application filed Nov. 29, 1901.)

3 Sheets -Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

' 1b The objectof the inventionis to providean closed position. v A further object of the invention is to pro-, 'vide means for automatically eontrollingthe,

opening and closing movements-of the door, reference-sign whereveritoccursthroughout UNITED STATES.

BATENT @FFICE. .v

HAROLD ROYVNTREE, OF CHI CAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE BUBDETT- ROlVN TREE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOISQA COR- PORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ELEVATO -D e' -o-Ein no -M ECHANISM'. i. I

. SPECIFICATION fQrIninQpartdfd'itt'ers PatentNol 700,375, dated May' 20, 1902. I

; Application filed Novemlier za-jistihse ri iiio. 83.965. on. model.)

To all whom it may concern: 1 .Be it known that I, HAROLD RowNTREna citizen of the United States,residing at Chi;

cago, in thecounty of Goolcand-Stateof Illi-f 5 nois,haveinvented-anewandnsefullmprovement in Elevator-Door Operating Mechanism, of which the following is agspecification. v

This invention relates to 'elevator-door-on, crating mechanism. a a

. elevator-door-op'erating mechanism-wherein} the doors areposit'ivelyand quickly operated or shifted by power mechanism intoopen or "so, that the door-operating mechanism may' be put in operation for each door as the car reaches a particular landing at which it is to stop. i A further-object ofthe-invention is to pro- "vide a door-operating mechanism forelevator' wells or shafts wherein the speed of travel of the door in moving from'its open to its closed position or from its closed-to its openedposition is variable and whereinthe speed of travel of the door is reduced as .itapproaches'its extreme closed or opened position. Other objects'of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter. Theinvention consists, substantially, inthe construction, combination, location,and arrangement of parts, all. as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in v the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings and to the various views and reference-signs o appearing thereon',.Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of an elevator well or shaft door, showing the application'thereto ofa construction embodying the principles of my inven-' tion. Fig-2 is a view in side elevation, parts in vertical section. Fig. 3 is an enlarged brokendetail view, in side.elevation,of a form of door-operating mechanism embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 4 is a similar view, in front elevation, of the construction shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail view in section on the-line 5 5 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction ofthe arrows. Fig. 6 is a broken detail view, in frontelevation,'showing the door-operating gearforming part of the form of construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the driving-pinions being omitted. Fig. '7 is a broken detailview in section, showing the 2 centering-stoparrangement of the construction shown in :Figs. 3and 4. Fig. Sis a broken detail View in section, showing the manner of 6; connecting the door-operating lever or arm to the doors Fig. 9-is a View similar to Fig.

.4,.showing a modified form of construction embraced within-the spirit and'scope offiny invention. v I

The same partis designated; by the same the several views. i

sive, I employ a shaft A, arrangedvtoextend 'throughout'the height or length o'ffth'eele-il vator shaft or well. This shaft may be-con tinuon'sly rotated or driven from any suitable I source of power andfrom'which the door-op 7'5 crating mechanism is'driven. Arranged adjacent to each elevator shaft or well door and in convenient position withreferencethereto on any fixed part of the framework of the in.- j

closure is a bracket B, upon which is pivot ally mounted one end of an'arm or lever O, the other end of said arm or lever being slidingly connected, as atD, in any'suitable or convenient manner to the elevator shaft or well door E. Also suitably journaled upon the bracket or framing B is an operating bevel-gear or other suitable driving part F.

Suitably mounted upon to rotate with shaft A, but capable of movementlongitudinallywith respect to said shaft, is a sleeve G, carry.- o

ing oppositely-presented pinions H H. A shifting lever J is fpivotally mountedtupon the-bracket or casting or'other convenient part of the framework in position for one arm thereof to engage a collar K on'sleeve G and 5 with the other end or arm thereof arranged in suitable or convenient position to be engaged by a shiftable shoe or other suitable means carried by the car and indicated. at L in Fig. 1. A spring or other retractile M may be connected to lever Jto normally hold said lever in position to maintain the sleeve G in one of its limits of movement and also in position for said lever J to be engaged by a shoe or other suitable part upon the car and which may be shifted in a well-understood manner by the car-conductor whenever it is desired to open any particular door. Suitably pivoted at one end eccentrically upon bevelwheel F is a link N, the point of pivotal connection of said link being indicated at O. The other end of said link is pivotally connected, as at Q, to the arm or lever C. A number of the gear-teeth of bevel-gear F are omitted, as at P, the purpose of which will presently be explained more fully.

The operation of the apparatus so far described is as follows: When a car approaches or reaches any particular landing at which it is desired to stop or at which it is desired to open the elevator shaft or well door, the carconductor effects an actuation of the shoe 'L or other device to project the same into engaging relation with respect to lever J, thereby rocking said lever against the action of its retractile M, and hence causing a displacement of sleeve G along shaft A and in a direction to enable pinion H to be brought into meshing relation with respect to gear F and the same movement carrying pinion 11 out of position to mesh with said gear F, and inasmuch as continuous rotation is imparted to shaft A, and hence also to sleeve G and pinions 11 H, the intermeshing of pinion H when thus shifted with gear F will effect a rotation of said gear-for instance, from'the position of the parts shown in Figs. 1 and 4:. Rotation thus imparted to gear F effects a swinging of arm 0, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4, through the connection of link N, respectively, with said gear and arm, thereby effecting a movement or shifting of the door into open position. By reason of the path described by the crank or eccentric connection 0 of link N to gear F it will be observed that the opening movement of the door begins slowly, and such speed gradually increases until the crank or eccentric connection 0 traverses the first half of its complete traveP-that is, one-quarter of a complete revolution of wheel F. From this point inward to the end of the travel of eccentric or crank connection 0 it will be seen that the speed thereof gradually decreases, thereby imparting a decreasing speed of travel to the door toward its completely-opened position, the speed of travel of the door being gradually reduced as it approaches its complete opened position,finally coming to rest when the crank or eccentric O has traveled through an arc of one hundred and eighty degrees. The position of the parts at this position-that is, with the door in completely-opened position is indicated in dotted lines in Fi 4:, and it will be observed that the points Q and O are substantially in line with the axis of rotation of gear Fthat is, the link N occupies a position of a dead-center with reference to its points of connection to gear F' and arm C.

lever J to return to its normal position, and

hence shifting sleeve Ginto the position thereof as disclosed in Figs. 3 and 4., with pinion H out of meshing or engaging relation with respect to gear F and with pinion H brought into engaging relation with respect to said gear. Thereupon rotation is imparted'to gear F in the opposite direction to that above described until theportion P of the gear-surface thereof arrives opposite pinion II, when the rotation of gear F will be arrested. During this return rotary movement of gear F it will be seen that the arm 0 is returned to its initial position and the door shifted or moved into closed position. It will also be seen that in closing the door will start from rest at a grad ually-increasing speed until gear F makes one-half of its return movement-that is, one quarter of a complete revolution thereon-and from that point on to its initial position, as shown in Fig. 4:, the movement of the door is of decreasing speed until the dooris finally brought to rest in its closed position. Itwill also be seen that when the door reaches its closed position the points 0 and Q, of pivotal connection of link N to gear F or arm 0, respectively, are again brought into substantial line with the axis of rotation of gear F, and hence in the position of a dead-center, thereby locking the door in its closed position. Thus it will be seen that. I provide an exceedingly simple and inexpensive mechanism for positively operating elevator shaft or well doors to open and closed positions,wherein the shifting movements of the door are effected by power mechanism which is under the control of the car-conductor and which is put in operation or in operative connection with the door only when desired. that the mechanism provides in itself for varying the speed of travel of the door in opening or closing, so that the door will be brought to its positions of rest in completely open or closed positions ata decreasing speed of movement, thereby being relieved of shock or jar, and that the door is locked in such positions.

If desired and in order to prevent gear F, through momentum or otherwise, from being carried beyond the point where the space 1 in the gear-surface thereof is brought opposite the pinions H 1-1, as the case may be, I may provide suitable stops R in convenient position upon the gear F to cooperate with a stop-pin S or other suitable device to posi- It will also be seen being carried-beyond its proper. stoppingpoint. I I I II t, I It may sometimes be desirable to insure completedisengagement ofthe teeth of pin- I ions H H from the teeth of gear-E when the point? in said gear is brought opposite said pinions and to prevent possibility ofthe teeth i I of pinions touchingthe adjacent orfboundingi teeth of space P of gearF during the continuous rotation of said pinions. This result may be accomplished in many differentjw'aysa I have shown a simple and convenientm'anner I of accomplishing this object by arranging.

stop-pin S to be acted upon by a spring'A,

normally operating to press said pin intocon-j tacting relation with the periphery of gearF, I and in the periphery of said gear at points adjacent tothe stops R, formed thereon, I'p'rovide V-shapedgi'ooves B, adapted to receive the pointed end of pin S. From this con-Y struction and arrangement it will be seen that when gear F reaches itsposition of rest that is, such position aswill bring the space P opposite the pinion II or H which'is in meshing- .relation with respect tothe'teeth of said gear F-the end of pin S will enter the seatformed by therecesses 13, thereby efficiently holding the gear F in position for the teeth thereof to be out of mesh with the pinion II o13l-l -,.as the case, may-be, the inclined walls 'of said seats' in cooperation with the pointed end of pin S permitting gear F; totake up rotation inithe opposite direction whenever the other pinion H or 1-1 is shiftedinto engagingrelation with respect to said'geart It may sometimes ment of the door-operating mechanismwithout bodily disengagingthe drivingpinions,i

still retaining the feature of a continuously revolving shaft. I haveshownsucha constructionlin Fig. 9, whereininstead of shifting thetpinions H H into-and out ofmeshing relation with-respect to drivegearll? said pint ions are mounted to revolve freelyupon shaft A and in constant meshwith the teeth of gear F, and-each pi-nion ll H is provided with a clutch, with which cooperates a clutch-sleeve Gig-adapted to be mounted upon shaft A to rotate therewith, but capable ofinovement longitudinally thereof, the. shifting of said sleeve (EH-being effected by a lever J in the thecase maybe, to rotate with. shaft A, the

other of said pinions running free upon said shaft, and,-similar1y, the shifting of sleeve G. in the oppositedirection will connect the other of said pinionstorotate with 'shaft A, I

thereby actuating gear F in the opposite direction from that above mentioned and correspondingly shifting the door. The gear F lation with respect totheteeth ofgear F; T

be desirable to provide;

' for the proper actuation of the driving eleerating tmechanis'm thereforinclu'dingarotafrom, a link connected to said arm or leve r part, and meanscon 'troll' able from'the cat-for is provided with vacant space similar tothe a, same and the operation being the same.

"The advantage of the constructionshownin' I Fig, 9 is that the "pinions H I-I are'not ref I;

.q'uired to be shifted intolor out-of meshing re'-. a a a to 1 d? i It is obvious that manyotherspecifically different forms of construction would occur toperson's skilled in the art, whereby'therea 1 sults'had in view areaccofmplished. ,ldo not if: desire, therefore, to-be limited o'rvrestricted to I v the exact constructions shown'a'nd described; t

HaVingnoW' setTfOrLh the 'objectand v natnre- I of m inventionan'd a-"con'struct ion embody ing the principles thereof, what I' cla ir n 'as new and useful andof inyowninvention, and desire'to secure by LettersPatent, 1,. In an elevator-door operating" nechan ism, the combination with a atq o ev m'ec anism foroperatiug the,same'includingarot'atable shaft, a' rotating Vpartdriven-there- II 1 I from, and eccentricconnections between'said; rotating part and door, whereb'y'izhedoorwhen f I operatedis moved'I at' constantly yaryi ,1 I 1 speed as and for-the purposesetforth. 795 t}; 2. The combination i With a door, of opera-t9" ing mechanism thereforincludinga'rotatablej I t shaft, a rotating part drivenjtherefronnecr'I- v j 1' centric connections betwe'ensaid .door androtating part,.aud means forcontrolling 'thefopg eration of saidrotating partg as and for the purpose set forth; I I j a The combination with" adoor',} of.anj-op-f,

table shaft, a rotating part driveni'therefrom,"-io an arm or lever connected to the dooig'iarifdiln link eccentrically connectedto said rfotati'ng, 1 7 part and having connectionwith saidarmor 15:. "xi" lever, as and forthe, purpose set' l forthj." Q

f n io ith a do rtqf v or lever connected thereto,' a rotatablelsht h, a rotating part adapted to be'd'riven'there-T; '1

and eccentrically connected to,said'rota ti11g;v f

purpose set forth. I I 1 I I 5. The combination with a door,"agear, a: rotatable shaft, driving-connections interrne- II diate said shaft and gear for imparting,rotaj--' r20" tive movement to said gear, ajlink pivotally connected eccentrically to said gear, and coil-J nections between said link and. door, as and t for the purpose set forth. I i I 6. The combination with a door'anda ro- I r25 1 tatable shaft, ofa rotatable gear adapted to v it be driven from said shaft/pa linl cpivetally connected eccentricallyto said gear, anjarm" connected tothe doorand to which said link" is also connected, thepoint ofcon'nection of said link to said gear and arm being in isub -j stantial' alinement with each other and with I operatingsaid rotating" parttas andforthe the axis of rotation of said gear when the door is in closed or opened position whereby the door is locked, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination With a door, power mechanism for operating the same and incl uding a rotatable shaft, a rotating part driven therefrom, connections between said rotating part and door for moving the same into closed or opened position, said connections operating in starting the door from a position of rest to move the door with a steadily-increasing speed, and at a steadily-decreasing speed as the car approaches its limit of movement, and means for controlling the operation of said power mechanism, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. The combination with a door, power mechanism for operating the same including a drivingshaft, pinions mounted on said shaft, a gear cooperating with said pinions, a link pivotally connected eccentrieally to said gear, and connections between said link and door, as and for the purpose set forth.

9. The combination with a door, power mechanism for operating said door, including a gear, driving-pinions for said gear, connections between said gear and door, said gear provided with a blank space in the gear-face thereof, whereby it is brought to rest, as and for the purpose set forth.

10. The combination with a door, of a continuously-revolving shaft, pinions mounted upon said shaft, a gear, means for operatively connecting said gear and shaft through said pinions, a portion of the teeth of said gear being omitted, and connections between said gear and door, as and for the purpose set forth.

11. The combination with a door, of an operating mechanism therefor, including a gear having a portion of the teeth omitted therefrom, a continuously-revolving shaft, pinions mounted thereon, means whereby said pinions complete operative connection between said gear and shaft, a link pivotally connected to said gear, and connections between said link and door, as and for the purpose set forth.

12. The combination with a door, of operating mechanism therefor, including a rotatable gear, a rotating shaft, pinions actuated thereby and forming operative connections between said shaft and gear, means for governing the operative connections between said pinions and gear, whereby either one or the other of said pinions are made operative with respect to said gear, and stops for arresting the movement of said gear, as and for the purpose set forth.

13. The combination with a door, of an operating-gear therefor, said gear provided with lugs, pinions for actuating said gear, and means arranged to be engaged by said lugs for arresting said gear at proper positions with reference to said pinions, as and for the purpose set forth.

14:. The combination with a door, an operating-gear therefor having a portion of the teeth thereof omitted, pinions for actuating said gear, whereby said gear is arrested when the blank portion thereof arrives opposite an actuating-pinion, and means for maintaining said gear in position to hold said blank portion out of engagement with the operatingpinion, as and for the purpose set forth.

15. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a door-operating mechanism therefor, including a rotatable gear having a portion of the gear-teeth thereof omitted to form a blank space, driving-pinions for said gear, said gear provided with notches or seats in the periphery thereof, and means arranged to enter said notch or seat to maintain said gear in position to hold said pinions out of engaging relation with respect to said gear, as and for the purpose set forth.

16. The combination with a door, of operating mechanism therefor, including a shaft, a sleeve mounted upon said shaft for rotation therewith, but capable of movement lengthwise thereof, means controllable from the car for shifting said sleeve upon said shaft, a gear, pinions, the shifting of said sleeve effecting the operative connection of one or the other of said pinions with said gear, a link pivotally connected eccentrically to'said gear, and connections between said link and door, as and for the purpose set forth.

17. The combination with a door, of mechanism for operating the same, including a gear, a rotatable shaft, a sleeve mounted upon said shaft for rotation therewith, but capable of longitudinal movement thereon and carrying pinions arranged when said sleeve is shifted to be brought respectively into engaging relation with respect to said gear, means for controlling the shifting movements of said sleeve from the car, a link pivotally connected at one end eccentrically to said gear, and means connected to the other end for operating the door, as and for the purpose set forth. a In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 26th day of November, 1901, in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

HAROLD ROWNTREE.

\Vitnesses:

CHAS. II. SEEM, S. E. DARBY. 

